Camming means

ABSTRACT

In the depicted embodiment, the means include a cam plate assembly, and a crank arm, rotatably and pivotally coupled to a mounting plate, respectively, with a cam follower assembly pivotally carried by the crank arm. The assembly has a pair of rollers thereon which engage opposite sides of a camming ridge formed on the cam plate assembly. The follower assembly defines a yoke, of pivotally coupled limbs, which slidably carries one of the rollers, and has a spring which urges the one roller, and a shaft upon which it is mounted, towards the other roller. Thus, a constant &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;nipping&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; contact of the rollers, in follow of the ridge, is assured.

' Appl. No.: 330,501

United States Patent 1 [111 3,791,228 Raymond Feb. 12, 1974 CAMMING MEANS I 7 l t Z G R d P. B 1 Primary ExaminerBenjamin W. Wyche 6] nven or 2 g 0 OX Assistant ExaminerWeS16y S. Ratliff, Jr.

I Attorney, Agent, or FirmJoseph T. Skelley [22] Filed: Feb. 8, 1973 5 7] ABSTRACT In the depicted embodiment, the means include a cam plate assembly, and a crank arm, rotatably and pivotally coupled to a mounting plate, respectively, with a cam follower assembly pivotally carried by the crank arm. The assembly has a pair of rollers thereon which engage opposite sides of a camming ridge formed on the cam plate assembly. The follower assembly defines a yoke, of pivotally coupled limbs, which slidably carries one of the rollers, and has a spring which urges the one roller, and a shaft upon which it is mounted, towards the other roller. Thus, a constant nipping contact of the rollers, in follow of the ridge, is assured.

10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures CAMMING MEANS This invention pertains to camming means, for use in equipment and machines, and in particular to such camming means providing faithful follow of the camming surfacing, without cam follower binding or withdrawal on or from the surfacing, respectively.

Known camming means use rollers, to endeavor to have the cam follower track a given camming surface, or employ a'stub shaft of sorts within a camming slot. Now, the stub shaft follower has been inefficient as, if it is too free in the slot, the crank arm driven thereby exhibits an erratic movement. If the stub shaft is too closely fitted in the slot, it is given to binding. Rollers are fairly good follower means, except that they withdraw from the camming surface especially where the camming surface is non-linear, defining a serpentine shape and cause the crank arm to manifest the same erratic and inaccurate movement.

It is an object of this invention to set forth improved camming means which avoid the problems, such as those just noted, which obtain in prior art camming means.

It is a particular object of this invention to teach an improved camming means, for use in equipment and machines, comprising a mounting element, for fixing said camming means in a machine or equipment; cam plate means, having a camming surface formed thereon, movably coupled to said mounting element; and a crank arm movably coupled to said mounting element; wherein said crank arm has a cam follower means coupled thereto, and in engagement with said camming surfacing, to cause movementof said crank arm in response to a movement of. said cam plate means relative to said mounting element; and saidcam follower Imeans includes means resiliently constraining said cam follower means in constant contacting engagement with said camming surfacing.

A feature of this invention, according to an embodiment thereof, includes a cam plate assembly, and a crank arm, rotatably'and pivotally coupled to a mounting plate, respectively, with a cam follower assembly pivotally carried by the crank arm. The latter assembly has a pair of rollers thereon which engage opposite sides of a camming ridge formed on the cam plate assembly. The follower assembly defines a yoke, of pivotally coupled limbs, which slidably carriesone of the to].- lers, and has a spring which urges the one roller, and a shaft upon which it is mounted, towards the other rolle'r.

Further objects and features of. this invention will be come more apparent by reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, in which:

FIG. l is an elevational view of an embodiment of the invention, the same being shown mounted to a structural member of an equipment;

' FIG. 2 is a plan view of the cam follower assembly of FIG. 1, the assembly being overturned and reversed, with respect to its disposition on" the crank arm in FIG. 1, and also being enlarged;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are pictorial, diagrammatic illustrations of only the limbs of the assembly of FIG. 2, depicting'the migration of the slot-formed aperture which carries a nipping roller shaft;

FIG. 5 is a view in side elevationtaken along section 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the cam plate assembly of FIG. 1, the same being reversed relative to its disposition in FIG. 1, and enlarged as well;

FIG. 7 is an end view of the cam plate assembly, taken along 7--7 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view, taken along section 8-8 of FIG. 6, depicting the eccentric, displacement elements.

As shown in FIG. 1, the novel camming means 10, according to an embodiment of the invention, has a mounting element 12 by means of which the camming means 10 is fixed to a structural member 14 of an equipment. Element 12 is bolted at one end 16 to member 14, and rotatably mounts a cam plate assembly 18 to an opposite end 20. Further, a crank arm 22 is pivotally coupled to element 12, at one end, at 24. The other end of the crank arm 22 pivotally carries a rod 26, at 28, for imparting camming motion to some component (not shown) of the equipment.

A cam follower assembly 30 is pivotally supported on the crank arm, at 32, that it might follow a camming ridge 34 which is formed on cam plate assembly 18. Cam plate assembly 18 includes a sprocket 36 which, according to standard practice in this art, is driven by a chain 38 powered by some prime mover (not shown).

With particular reference to FIGS. 2 through 5, the novel structure and functioning of the cam follower as sembly 30 will be seen. Said assembly 30 comprises a yoke formed of a pair of elongate limbs 40 and 40. The limbs are pivotally joined at 42, in surmounting relationship, and rotatably carry a camming roller 44 thereat. Each limb has a slot 46 formed therein, which lies transverse to an axial centerline C/L of the limb, yet the slots 46 are angularly disposed, one to the other thereof. Cooperatively, the slots 46 define a throughgoing aperture 48 and, with movement of ends 50 of limbs 40 and 40 toward and away from each other, the aperture 48 migrates toward and away from roller 44.

A nipping roller 44 is rotatably mounted on ashaft 52, the shaft being in penetration of aperture 48. A round plate 54 and a lock nut 56 are carried by the shaft 52 and therebetween define a space which is occupied by the crank arm 22. Thus, plate 54 bears against the crank arm, and nut 56 secures the shaft to the crank arm. Rollers 44 and 44', then, seize the camming ridge 34 therebetween, when the limbs 40 and 40' are urged towards each other.

To insure that rollers 44 and 44' will seize, and maintain a constant contact with ridge 34, a spring 58 is tensioned between tangs 60 extendingv from ends 50 of limbs 40 and 40'.

As FIGS. 3 and 4 depict, the aperture 48 moves toward and away from the location of roller 44; also, in dotted-line depiction, the migrational dispositions which the shaft 52 and nipping roller 44 can assume are shown. Considering the view presented in FIG. 5,

spring 58 causes the shaft 52 and nipping roller 44' to and 44' close upon the ridge 34, the ancillary roller 44" tracks the periphery of the cam plate from which the ridge 34 extends.

FIGS. 6 through 8 depict the structure of the cam plate assembly 18. The latter comprises a cam plate 64, which supports the camming ridge 34, and the sprocket 36. The sprocket 36 is fixed to a boss 66 which, in turn, is fixed to a sprocket plate 68. Plates 64 and 68 are surmountingly coupled together, and pivotally joined at 70. Joint 70 defines a pivotal aperture by means of which the assembly 18 is coupled to end 20 of the mounting element 12. Pivotal movement of plates 64 and 68 is accommodated by slots 72 formed in plate 64 and threaded holes (not shown) in plate 68, which slots and holes receive headed machine screws 74. The pivotal movement, a limited displacement of one of the plates 64 and 68, relative to the other thereof, is effected through the use of an eccentric bolt 76. Bolt 76 has a slotted drive head 78 which is nested in a slot 80 formed in plate 64, and an eccentric shank 82 which is operative in a hole 84 formed in plate 68. Rotation of bolt 76 causes a displacement, through the angle Z. With screws 74 loosely fixed in place, the rotation can be effected, and the angular movement capable with the eccentric bolt 76 is equivalent to the distance obtaining between two adjacent teeth of the sprocket 36. Accordingly, a carefully precisioned alignment of the camming means 10, relative to the component to be moved by rod 26, can be realized. Obviously, the chain 38 can be engaged with the sprocket 36 in a near, if coarse, alignment. Then, wwth the use of bolt 76, a vernier adjustment of the alignment, to exact requirements, can be made. This vernier adjustment: it relates to the displacement of the said two adjacent teeth rela-v tive to the camming ridge 34. FIG. 6 illustrates, in plan view, the disposition of the exposed portion a segment of the sprocket 36 about the periphery of plate 64. At either ends of this exposed portion/segment, given last" teeth are visible. Now, with revolution of bolt 76 to one end of slot 80, one of these last teeth will disappear beneath plate 64, and the other thereof will be supplanted by a succeeding last tooth. On revolution of the bolt 76 to the other end of the slot 80, the disappeared tooth will return to view, and the succeeding tooth, on the other end of the portion/segment, will move into obscurity beneath plate 64.

The periphery of plate 64, signified by index number 86, presents that surface upon which the ancillary roller 44" moves.

At assembly of the novel means in an equipment, the precise alignment of the means is effected, in accordance with the foregoing discussion, and the screws 74 can be securely torqued in place that the true alignment will not be lost.

The improved means 10 provide a precise camming which is constantly responsive to the excursions of'the camming surfacing in this embodiment: ridge 34. Rollers 44 and 44 are constantly urged together in seizure and true camming follow of ridge 34, no matter what serpentine track the ridge 34 manifests.

While I have described my invention in connection with a specific embodiment thereof, it is to be clearly understood that this is done only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of the invention as set forth in the objects thereof, and in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Camming means, for use in equipment and machines, comprising:

a mounting element, for fixing said camming means in a machine or equipment;

cam plate means, having a camming surfacing formed thereon, movably coupled to said mounting element; and

a crank arm movably coupled to said mounting element; wherein said crank arm has a cam follower means coupled thereto, and in engagement with said camming surfacing, to cause movement of said crank arm in response to a movement of said cam plate means relative to said mounting element;

said cam follower means includes means resiliently constraining said cam follower means in constant contacting engagement with said camming surfacing;

said cam follower means further includes first and second rollers, spaced apart one from the other thereof, in contacting engagement with said camming surfacing, and said constraining means comprises means urging said first and second rollers toward one another;

said camming surfacing comprises a ridge extending perpendicularly from said cam plate means;

said first and second rollers are constrained against opposite sides of said ridge;

said cam follower means comprises a yoke having a plurality of elongate limbs, said limbs being pivotally joined together at one end thereof in surmounting relationship;

said first roller being rotatably mounted to said one end of said limbs;

said limbs each have a slot formed therein which extends transverse to an axial centerline of said limb, said slot in one of said limbs being angularly disposed, and thus lying transverse to said slot in a limb surmountingly coupled thereto;

said cam follower means further comprising a shaft in penetration of said slots; and

said second roller is rotatably mounted to said shaft, and defines a slidable interface with a surface of one of said limbs;

said shaft being caused to migrate along said slots, to dispose said second roller in varying juxtaposition to said first roller, upon ends of said limbs which are opposite to said one ends being pivotally moved into greater and lesser proximity;

said constraining means comprising means normally urging said opposite ends of said limbs into greater proximity.

2. Camming means, according to claim 1, wherein:

said cam plate means is rotatably coupled to said mounting element;

said crank arm is pivotally coupled to said mounting element; and

said cam follower means is pivotally coupled to said crank arm.

3. Camming means, according to claim 1, wherein:

said cam follower means further includes first and second rollers, spaced apart one from the other thereof, in contacting engagement with said camming surfacing, and said constraining means comprises means urging said first and second rollers towards one another.

4. Camming means, according to claim 3, wherein:

said camming surfacing comprises a ridge extending perpendicularly from said cam plate means; and

said first and second rollers are constrained against opposite sides of said ridge.

5. Camming means, for use in equipment and machines, comprising:

a mounting element, for fixing said camming means in a machine or equipment;

cam plate means, having a camming surfacing formed thereon, movably coupled to said mounting element; and

a crank arm movably coupled to said mounting element; wherein said crank arm has a cam follower means coupled thereto, and in engagement with said camming surfacing, to cause movement of said crank arm in response to a movement of said cam plate means relative to said mounting element; and

said cam follower means includes means resiliently constraining said cam follower means in constant contacting engagement with said camming surfacing; and wherein said cam plate means includes a cam plate; and a driver element;

said cam plate and said driver element being pivotally coupled together; and further including means coupled to both said driver element and said cam plate for pivotally displacing said driver element and said cam plate relative to each other.

6. Camming means, for use in equipment and machines, comprising:

a mounting element, for fixing said camming means in a machine or equipment;

cam plate means, having a camming surfacing formed thereon, movably coupled to said mounting element; and

a crank arm movably coupled to said mounting element; wherein said crank arm has a cam follower means coupled thereto, and in engagement with said camming surfacing, to cause movement of said crank arm in response to a movement of said cam plate means relative to said mounting element said cam follower means includes means resiliently constraining said cam follower means in constant contacting enegagement with said camming surfacing;

said cam plate means includes a cam plate; and a driver element;

said cam plate and said driver element being pivotally coupled together; and further including means coupled to both said driver element and said cam plate for pivotally displacing said driver element and said cam plate relative to each other; and wherein said driver element comprises a sprocket having teeth formed on the periphery thereof; and

said displacing means comprises means for displacing said cam plate and said sprocket at least an amount equal to the distance between two of said teeth.

7. A cam follower, for use in equipment or machinery 5 camming means, comprising:

roller support means, comprising a yoke formed of a plurality of elongate limbs;

first and second rollers coupled to said support means, in spaced apart relationship from one to the other thereof; wherein one of said rollers is coupled to said limbs for slidable movement thereof relative to said limbs; and

means carried by said support means for effecting slidable movement of said one roller, for urging said rollers towards one another.

8. A cam follower, according to claim 1, wherein:

said plurality of elongate limbs are pivotally joined together at one end thereof in surmounting relationship;

said first roller is rotatably coupled to said one end of said limbs;

said limbs each have a slot formed therein which extends transverse to an axial centerline of said limb, said slot in one of said limbs being angularly disposed, and thus lying transverse to said slot in a limb surmountingly coupled thereto; further comprising a shaft in penetration of said slots; and

said second roller is rotatably coupled on said shaft, and defines a slidable interface with a surface of one of said limbs;

said shaft being caused to migrate along said slots, to

dispose said second roller in varying juxtaposition to said first roller, upon ends of said limbs which are opposite to said one ends being pivotally moved into greater and lesser proximity; and

said urging means normally urges said opposite ends of said limbs into greater proximity.

9. Cam plate means, for use in equipment or machinery camming means, comprising:

said driver element comprises a toothed sprocket;

and

said displacing means comprises means for displacing said cam plate and said sprocket at least an amount equal to the distance between two teeth of said sprocket. 

1. Camming means, for use in equipment and machines, comprising: a mounting element, for fixing said camming means in a machine or equipment; cam plate means, having a camming surfacing formed thereon, movably coupled to said mounting element; and a crank arm movably coupled to said mounting element; wherein said crank arm has a cam follower means coupled thereto, and in engagement with said camming surfacing, to cause movement of said crank arm in response to a movement of said cam plate means relative to said mounting element; said cam follower means includes means resiliently constraining said cam follower means in constant conTacting engagement with said camming surfacing; said cam follower means further includes first and second rollers, spaced apart one from the other thereof, in contacting engagement with said camming surfacing, and said constraining means comprises means urging said first and second rollers toward one another; said camming surfacing comprises a ridge extending perpendicularly from said cam plate means; said first and second rollers are constrained against opposite sides of said ridge; said cam follower means comprises a yoke having a plurality of elongate limbs, said limbs being pivotally joined together at one end thereof in surmounting relationship; said first roller being rotatably mounted to said one end of said limbs; said limbs each have a slot formed therein which extends transverse to an axial centerline of said limb, said slot in one of said limbs being angularly disposed, and thus lying transverse to said slot in a limb surmountingly coupled thereto; said cam follower means further comprising a shaft in penetration of said slots; and said second roller is rotatably mounted to said shaft, and defines a slidable interface with a surface of one of said limbs; said shaft being caused to migrate along said slots, to dispose said second roller in varying juxtaposition to said first roller, upon ends of said limbs which are opposite to said one ends being pivotally moved into greater and lesser proximity; said constraining means comprising means normally urging said opposite ends of said limbs into greater proximity.
 2. Camming means, according to claim 1, wherein: said cam plate means is rotatably coupled to said mounting element; said crank arm is pivotally coupled to said mounting element; and said cam follower means is pivotally coupled to said crank arm.
 3. Camming means, according to claim 1, wherein: said cam follower means further includes first and second rollers, spaced apart one from the other thereof, in contacting engagement with said camming surfacing, and said constraining means comprises means urging said first and second rollers towards one another.
 4. Camming means, according to claim 3, wherein: said camming surfacing comprises a ridge extending perpendicularly from said cam plate means; and said first and second rollers are constrained against opposite sides of said ridge.
 5. Camming means, for use in equipment and machines, comprising: a mounting element, for fixing said camming means in a machine or equipment; cam plate means, having a camming surfacing formed thereon, movably coupled to said mounting element; and a crank arm movably coupled to said mounting element; wherein said crank arm has a cam follower means coupled thereto, and in engagement with said camming surfacing, to cause movement of said crank arm in response to a movement of said cam plate means relative to said mounting element; and said cam follower means includes means resiliently constraining said cam follower means in constant contacting engagement with said camming surfacing; and wherein said cam plate means includes a cam plate; and a driver element; said cam plate and said driver element being pivotally coupled together; and further including means coupled to both said driver element and said cam plate for pivotally displacing said driver element and said cam plate relative to each other.
 6. Camming means, for use in equipment and machines, comprising: a mounting element, for fixing said camming means in a machine or equipment; cam plate means, having a camming surfacing formed thereon, movably coupled to said mounting element; and a crank arm movably coupled to said mounting element; wherein said crank arm has a cam follower means coupled thereto, and in engagement with said camming surfacing, to cause movement of said crank arm in response to a movement of said cam plate means relative to said mounting element; said cam followeR means includes means resiliently constraining said cam follower means in constant contacting enegagement with said camming surfacing; said cam plate means includes a cam plate; and a driver element; said cam plate and said driver element being pivotally coupled together; and further including means coupled to both said driver element and said cam plate for pivotally displacing said driver element and said cam plate relative to each other; and wherein said driver element comprises a sprocket having teeth formed on the periphery thereof; and said displacing means comprises means for displacing said cam plate and said sprocket at least an amount equal to the distance between two of said teeth.
 7. A cam follower, for use in equipment or machinery camming means, comprising: roller support means, comprising a yoke formed of a plurality of elongate limbs; first and second rollers coupled to said support means, in spaced apart relationship from one to the other thereof; wherein one of said rollers is coupled to said limbs for slidable movement thereof relative to said limbs; and means carried by said support means for effecting slidable movement of said one roller, for urging said rollers towards one another.
 8. A cam follower, according to claim 1, wherein: said plurality of elongate limbs are pivotally joined together at one end thereof in surmounting relationship; said first roller is rotatably coupled to said one end of said limbs; said limbs each have a slot formed therein which extends transverse to an axial centerline of said limb, said slot in one of said limbs being angularly disposed, and thus lying transverse to said slot in a limb surmountingly coupled thereto; further comprising a shaft in penetration of said slots; and said second roller is rotatably coupled on said shaft, and defines a slidable interface with a surface of one of said limbs; said shaft being caused to migrate along said slots, to dispose said second roller in varying juxtaposition to said first roller, upon ends of said limbs which are opposite to said one ends being pivotally moved into greater and lesser proximity; and said urging means normally urges said opposite ends of said limbs into greater proximity.
 9. Cam plate means, for use in equipment or machinery camming means, comprising: a cam plate having camming surfacing formed thereon; and a driver element; said cam plate and said driver element being pivotally coupled together; and further including means coupled to both said driver element and said cam plate for pivotally displacing said driver element and said cam plate relative to each other.
 10. Cam plate means, according to claim 9, wherein: said driver element comprises a toothed sprocket; and said displacing means comprises means for displacing said cam plate and said sprocket at least an amount equal to the distance between two teeth of said sprocket. 